Pooling together their resources, environmental groups filed a petition today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), requesting the federal agency to establish pollution rules and regulations for marine vessels. Shockingly, there are no pollution regulations for these large ocean-going marine vessels, and as a consequence, they are emitting a significant amount of global warming pollutants (3% of the world’s CO2).
With the shipping industry’s growth, emissions are predicted to double by 2020 and triple by 2030. Regulations are needed to take ‘the wind out of the sails’ of this rapid pollution increase. Thee large ships currently are responsible for the transportation of approximately 90 percent of the world's consumer goods. They burn what is known as bunker fuel. Compared to diesel by trucks and buses, this petroleum-based fuel is 1,000 times dirtier.
The resources for innovation exist and they need to be put into use. It is crucial that the shipping industry works to increase fuel efficiency and use cleaner fuels. If ships are not willing to go green on their own, the EPA needs to establish pollution rules that will pressure the shipping industries to change their practices. The EPA has remained far too inactive on this important issue by extending deadlines for the regulations. This slow response will only allow for more damage to be done by the unchecked levels of pollution from carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and black carbon (or soot). The petition filed by EarthJustice on behalf of Oceana, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for Biological Diversity, addresses their concern over global warming and its adverse effects on both the public and environmental health.
For more information:
http://www.oceana.org/north-america/media-center/press-releases/press_release/0/694/
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